Spring-wheel.



C. D. FREEMAN L R. W. CHEESBROUGH.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1912*.

nuewtow .F 11F/ernv /an und @Vi/buono vide a spring wheel that shall be simple in Spaced guide plates 6 each havingy an an- CLIFFORD D, FREEMANND RICHARD w.

CHEESBROUGH, OF BOGUS, CALIFORNIA.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17, 1913.

Application filed June 12, 1912. Serial No. 703,284.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, CLIFFORD D. FREE- MAN and RicHAnn lV. CHEEsisRoUoH, citizens of the United States, residing at Bogus, in the county of Siskiyou and State of California, have invented certain new and use-1 ful Improvements in Spring l/Vheels, of which the `following isa specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. A

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in vehicle n-'h'eels and relates more particularly to spring Wheels designed for use on automobiles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a wheel of this type in which there shall be a double cushioning action.

Another object of thev invention is to prostructure, durable, and relatively cheap to manufacture.

` The invention also aiins to generally iniprove devices of this nature and to render them more serviceable and commercially de-J sirable.

With these and other object-sin view shall become apparent as the description proceeds the vinvention consists in certain constructions and arrangement of parts as we shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

In the embodimentI of our invention We provide an outer rim and an inner rim spaced tliereironi by a plurality `of radially disposed spiral springs7 said inner riin being connected to the hub by telescopic spokes. a

For :t complete tindex-standing of this invention reference is to he had to the following description and mwoinpanying drawing in whichMliignrtl l is a side elevation of a portion of our iniprm ed spring wheel, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view. Fig'. 3 is a vii-w on the plane of line 8 3 in Fig. 1. and Figf-l is adetail perspective view of an inner section of one of. the telescopic spokes. Y

Referringy to the drawing by numerals, 1 4designates an outer rini provided with the inclined, outwardly projecting annular flanges 2, which serve as elenchers to holdf the tire 3 in position., 4 is an inner rim spaced from the outer rini by a plurality of radially disposed spiral springs (S.i

nular flange "i are secured to the innerface of. rim 1 on opposite edges thereof anderprevent lateral movement of one rim relative to the other. The flanges 8, also forni `a channel to receive the inner ends of the springs GA and hold them against lateral iovement. The flanges 7 serve in the saine .manner to limit the movement ofthe outer ends of the springs which are secured to the rim l. v

Telescopic tubular spokes 9 each having an outer section 10 fitting within an inner section 11, connect the inner rim 4 to the hub 1Q. These spokes are arranged in radial alinement with the springs 6. Each section 10-.is provided adjacent. its outer end with the diainetrically opposed, longitudinally extending, apertured projections 13 which are pivotally connected by means of the fastener 14 to the lugs 141- :torined integral with the inner face of the rim 4. Spaoed parallel ears 15 are formed on Y.the inner end of each of the spoke sections 11 by /recessing said sections on opposite sides and flattening the portions between the recesses. These ears 15 lit over the reduced portion 16 of the hub 12 and are pi votaflly connected thereto by the bolts 17. The edges 18 are spaced from the periphery of the hub 12-so that the spokes may swing freely.

Supplemental or guide spokes 19 are arranged coneentrically within the. telescopic spokes 9 and have enlarged inner ends 2t) which are seated within recessesr 21 in the periphery of the hub l2. The ends Q0 being tapered to fit snugly within the recesses 2 1 and are h'rrnly secured in position by the bolts 17 which secure the ears 15. The outer portions of the guide' spokes 19 project through longitudinal slots 22 in the rim #l and have their ends spaced from the rim 1. A spiral spring 6 encircles each spoke 19 and has its inner end 23 bent about. the spoke to form an eye as shown in Fig. 3.

Spiral springs 24 positioned with the tubular sections 11 encircle the guide spokes` 19 and by bearing against the periphery ot the hub l2 and the inner ends ot' the seetions 10 serve to normally retain the said hub concentrically within the rim 4. These inner springs 24 are made somewhat stronger thairthe outer springs 6 for a purpose to be explained later:

It will be noted that the supplemental or. guide spokes perform a number of valuable functions. They limit the torsional movement of the inner rim in relation to the hub, to a degree dependent. upon the length 'of the slots 22. They provide means, independent of th rim 4,-for easily securing the inner ends of the springs G against cireumferen-- tial movenient which is advantageous since a. torsional movement of one rim does not then atleet the other. They also prevent lateral movement of the inner rim at in relation to the hub l2 and they further act as stops .to prevent an undue con'ipressio'n ot the spiral .springs G and Q4.

The operation ot our improved wheel is as follows: Then an average load is placed upon the wheel it is supported by the springs G and the stronger springs 24 are not appref ciably com pressed. Slight variations of pressure due to uneven roads, changel in load, etc., atects only the outer springs to anygreat degree. This is decidedly advantageous since it relieves the telescopic spokes 9 of much frictional wear. If, however, the load is a heavy one it affects both the inner and outer springs causing sliding move ment among the telescopic spokes 9. A load as heavy as to injure the springs forces the outer' rim l against the ends of the rigid spokes 19 and is then supported by said rigid spokes. j

F rom the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying draw- 'ing it will be apparent that We have provided aV spring wheel having -a double 'cushioning action and one which can be cheaply manufactured.

. l/Vhile We have shown a preferred torni of our invention itis to be understood that minor changes in construction and arrangement of parts may be. made without depart- ,ing from the scope of the invention als defined by the appended claims.

What we claim is 1. A spring wheel comprising` an outer rim, an inner rim, a plurality of spiral springs radially disposed between said inner and outer rims, a hub, a plurality of telescopic tubular spokes pivotally secured to the inner rim and to the hub, a plurality of spiral springs placed lWithin said tubular spokes and tending to normally hold the hub concentrically within the inner rijn, and a plurality of supplemental spokes rigidly secured at their inner ends to the hul) and projecting through the tubular spokes and the inner rim.

2. ln a spring wheel, the combination of an outer rim, an inner rim, a plurality ot spiral springs disposed in radial alinement between the inner and outer rims, a hub, a plurality of telescopic spokes pivotally connected to the inner rim and to the hub, said telescopic spokes comprising outer tubular sections and inner tubular sections, a spiral spring positioned within each inner tubular section and bearing against the periphery ot the hub and the inner end of the outer tubu# lar section, a plurality of radially disposed supplemental spokes rigidly connected at their inner ends to the hub, each supplemental spoke projecting through a telescopic 'spoke and a longitudinal slot formed in the inner rim, said supplemental spokes preventing lateral movement of the inner rim relative to the hub. v

3. A spring Wheel comprising an outer rim, an inner rim, a plurality of radially disposed spiral springs positioned between the inner and outer rims, a hub', a plurality of radially disposed, tubular telescopic spokes comprising outer sections pivotally secured to the inner rim and inner sections overlapping said outer sections and pivotallyconnected t-o the hub, a spiral spring positioned within each inner tubular section and bearing against the periphery of the hub and the inner end of the corresponding outer section, and a plurality of supplemental spokes rigidly secured at their inner ends to the hub, each supplemental spoke projecting through a telescopic spoke and through a longitudinal slot formed in'the inner rim, said tubular spokes preventing undue rotational movement of the rims rela-tive to the hub and also preventing lateral movement .of the rims relative to the hub, the inner ends of the first mentioned spiral springs being held in. position bythe said supplemental spokes.

In testimony whereof \\'ehereunto ailix our signatures in the presence ol' two witnesses.

'CLlFFORD'lL lfRllllVlAN. RICHARD NV. CH E'ICSBR( )[lGll.

Witnesses Guo. E. CROW, J. H. Fosrnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington,-D. 0. 

